Raft Race!

"Raft of the Medusa" by Theodore Gericault

Whatever else you're doing this Memorial Day weekend, do take a few moments to think about the upcoming Raft Race on our next big holiday, the Fourth of July. If  you've only recently landed on Planet Lake Worth and all this is news to you, every year Neighborhood Associations, civic groups (like Kiwanis) different businesses and pretty much any one who wants to, builds a raft according to whatever theme is chosen and hauls it down to the boat ramp on the Fourth of July.

First order of business there is to set up a tailgate party and scare the bejesus out of every other entry with your spectacular raft. Water balloons, squirt guns and general merry making are the order of the day, but . . .

Beware! Pirates are known to infiltrate and come disguised dressed in cute and cuddly only to brandish the cutlass and a hearty Yo Ho Ho as they scamper about looting treasure and paddles from unsuspecting rafters.

The race begins at Noon, more or less, and sometimes all the rafts even start at the same time! Rafters paddle their craft out to a buoy and back and first in wins the lovely and coveted Grunge Cup! There are prizes for Crowd Pleaser and Best In Show and any other category that seems like a good idea at the time.

There's a rumor around town that the Commission will be entering a raft in this year's race and another really vicious rumor that they will be limited to two minutes of paddling and have to just sit there and float the rest of the race! YAAAARRRRR!

Bryant Park Neighborhood Association is responsible for this annual lunacy and this year's event is no exception to the rule. Speaking of rules, I asked Herman Robinson for a run down of what's allowed in building the rafts and he laughed. Except for a few, and I do mean FEW rules - anything goes! 

Rafters have to be at least 16 and wear life jackets. No manufactured hulls or motors. Store bought paddles are OK. Build your raft from anything you like and make it as big or small as you want. Put as many or as few paddlers on board as you think will win and dress 'em up to the nines! Costumes and decorations count!

The theme this year is Broadway Musicals. Here's a few ideas for those who haven't picked one yet. Some of these have already been taken and it's all SUPPOSED to be a secret until the big day. Fat Chance! Google away to find more.

Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Les Miserables, A Chorus Line, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, Hello Dolly!, My Fair Lady, Hairspray, Cabaret, South Pacific, Hair, La Cage aux Folles, Ain't Misbehavin', Barefoot in the Park, Dreamgirls, Sound of Music, Music Man, Funny Girl, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Butterflies Are Free.

God Bless the United States Military of Armed Forces

United States Army

"This We'll Defend"

United States Navy

"Non Sibi Sed Patriae"
Not Self But Country

United States Coast Guard

"Semper Paratus"

Always Ready

United States Air Force

"Above All"

United State Marine Corps

"Semper Fidelis"

Always Faithful

United States Navy Seals

"The only easy day was yesterday"

National Guard of the United States

"Always Ready, Always There"


Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Weekend Everyone!

Achievement in Customer Service

This is Gail. She's the technician who services the Panda Palace and keeps the creepy crawlies at bay. Gail works for Hulett Environmental Services, a company we have used for many years for pest control, lawn care and termite protection. Gail was just named Best Pest Control Technician in the United States by Pest Control Technology magazine. That's pretty cool and we certainly acknowledge her achievement, but that's not only what this story is about. See the letter right down here? You can click on it to make it larger in just a minute, and I hope you do because the letter talks about all the community efforts that Gail volunteers for, but first, read on down below the image for the rest of the story.

Pest Control Technology magazine is not on my usual to-do list of required reading. I learned about Gail's achievement because Hulett sent that letter to our home and the homes of all the families that rely on Gail every month. This didn't come tucked inside the monthly bill. This came all on it's own. 

What does it say about a company that spends the time and corporate profits to honor an employee and share the good news with her customers in such a personal way? I think it says a lot. I think that Hulett has just revealed why their reputation for excellent customer service is what it is. Hulett clearly understands, in a way that is both uncommon and wonderful, that taking care of their customers begins with taking care of the people, like Gail, who take care of those customers. 

Congratulations to Gail and to Hulett for setting such high standards and excellent example in what award winning customer service really means and how to achieve it. Now please go back up and click on the letter to read more about Gail!

Commission Workshop on Water and Sewer Rates

The Commission will meet tonight at 6 pm in a Workshop to hear the latest "rate sufficiency" recommendations from Burton and Associates for water and sewer rates. Click here for the back-up which is limited to a power point presentation from the consultant. The Commission may receive a more detailed report, but at the moment, it's not online.

What I'm particularly interested in hearing are answers to the questions the Commission asked when the issue of making Aqua Utilities Florida a bulk customer came before the Commission on March 20th. Since 1974, AUF has paid the residential rate for water they resell to their customers. On March 20th, the Utilities Director recommended to the Commission that AUF be given a new contract for bulk rates instead of residential. A sticking point came up when the Commission learned that AUF was under no obligation and had no intention of passing those savings directly on to their local residential customers who are receiving water from LWU. AUF said any savings, estimated at $150,000 a year, would have to be spread among all their customers throughout 48 municipalities in Florida, which pretty much dilutes those dollars if you'll forgive the pun.

That pretty much meant that the City of Lake Worth would lose $150,000 in revenue every year for the next 30 years; revenue that guess who would have to make up. And that the lower cost of water would not be passed on in any appreciable way, except to the bottom line of Aqua Utilities.

This quickly turned into an AH HA moment for the Commission, who proceeded to request how much it costs LWU to produce and deliver say, 5000 gallons of water and how much does LWU charge it's own residential customers (us) for that. The powerpoint indicates that the proposed rate is $32.65; a decrease from the current rate of $36.17. It will be interesting to learn what's changed that makes it possible to charge residential customers less for the same 5,000 gallons of water. Is it because of the Reverse Osmosis plant? Where do the costs for electricity to run the RO plant come in? Are those costs applied to water rates?

I'm also interested in hearing a lot more about the water we buy from WPB occasionally for the College Park section of Lake Worth. The power point mentions the fee we pay for water from Palm Beach County, but nothing about the WPB surface water purchases.

Included in the powerpoint is a review and revenue analysis of the Beach and Casino water rates and the costs apportioned to the construction. Where does this fit in with the cost of the electric infrastructure at the Beach recently added to the overall cost of the project to the tune of more than $1,700,000. From which utility fund is the lion's share of that additional cost coming? Water? Sewer?  

As expected, the study speaks to adequate debt coverage, adequate reserves and funding of minor capital and infrastructure improvements as well as the 10 year CIP budget. This is important. Public Services is about to contract with a consulting firm for a major street and sidewalk master plan. Constructing new or repairing existing streets and sidewalks means that water and sewer lines come into play. Add to that the stormwater assessment and the ongoing study to change the way those rates are applied and all of these separate utility functions suddenly seem very and inextricably related.

So, does the reduced CIP for water, affect the CIP for sewer and how do both of those affect the CIP for streets and sidewalks? If water rates are reduced, how does that impact the expected raise in stormwater rates? I realize that these are all separate funds, and to some degree have to be analysed in isolation. To what degree is the question. 

Welcome to the Hoyle Family

Thursday, May 24th 

9:30 AM

24 South D Street

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